How to Stop a Basement Wall from Leaking

[@pctgp]

After a hard rain, we found water in our basement. Thankfully, it was in an unfinished area, and we saw the crack in the poured foundation. Your video was perfect, and the fix worked just like you suggested. We have had several more heavy rains, and the wall is as dry as can be. Thanks!

[@bigalb8935]

I will try this also have this problem everyone said this cement works thanks

[@zaggaona]

Still holding up?

[@kyleerhard9284]

Excellent job 👏 tough crowd in the comments... many think they know better but thats not a reflection of your work or skill, it just shows the state of mind of the general public. Thanks for the video and the help !

[@Sticksandstones292]

With the expansion/contraction of the foundation through the seasons(especially in northern climates). This will crack again in a couple years. By then you possibly have spent alot of money finishing your basement and are opening yourself up to a very expensive problem. Get it done right. Polyurethane injection or rubber membrane seal on the outside.

[@OrionConstellationHome]

I agree. Previous owned used hydr. cement and it cracked again and water started seeping. So I had the same problem. I did my homework and researched all the products and many companies. Watched tons of videos. Ended up injecting polyurethane from two different companies. One expanded much more than other polyurethane on the market. Did the test to see how much it expands first. At the end Worked great! Takes about 2 days working slowly. Day one cleaning the crack. Day 2 putting epoxy and ports, then slowly injecting.

[@kevinolliges5462]

The hydraulic cement did NOT work sealing up a basement crack for me. The moisture still came in. I ended up using a polyurethane injection product called CPR Products Incorporated. There are videos on You Tube providing step by step instructions. I used the 602 paste and the 1001 injections resin. The product can be a little messy, but does dry very hard. It's been 3 years and the cracks I repaired have not leaked. I recommend using disposable rubber gloves.

[@mallyu987]

Prob with forcing Cement into crack, is with just treating couple inches of an 8 - 10 Inch Wall, which stop leaks entering basement, but does nothing about Water being absorbed by other 6 - 8 inches of Untreated wall which still has Water entering Wall, to eventually Saturate whole Wall. Concrete is Porous. In Cold regions, it is vital to keep Dirt around House HIGHER than Frost-Line (4 ft) to prevent Drainage from Freezing. Back Fill around House will keep Settling.

[@SallowDawn]

Saw you wound up sealing this from the outside a year later. Curious - why did you go with that over the injection method?

[@OHFScratch]

I don't think the method in this video worked particularly well. We ended up finishing the basement and I didn't want to risk puddles forming behind the walls. Also, had a family member that had a roll of the rubber membrane and the glue compound. Putting it on the exterior was challenging and I had to rent an excavator, which my wife insisted on I not film in the event it went poorly. :)

[@dosmastrify]

9 month update?

[@robertfannon5972]

Can you do this without a hand jack hammer

[@jerrypasquariello4360]

Can you use a thin tool , like a screwdriver to push the hydraulic cement deeper into the gap?

[@OHFScratch]

sure

[@HaugAaron]

I would like to see it after a monsoon rain. 😁

[@YaBoyDC]

I’m from Jersey too

[@aboutbusiness9879]

I recently had this done from the outside but only about 4 ft deep. Guy also used tar and an ice n water plastic shield and it was dug with shovels. My question is what is the average cost for a job like this? Making sure I wasn't ripped off lol.

[@OHFScratch]

I have no idea

[@Jerry-ih3xq]

I doubted this would work since the water can still come into the cracks from the outside and seep through the patch.

[@caseymiller7297]

Ok...but you still have water pushing from the outside in. You've fixed the cracks but not the problem. I would think you'll still have seepage running in from the outside and it will eventually make new cracks. Do you have an update to how well this fix actually worked or does anyone else have any long term experience with how this held up?

[@OHFScratch]

I ended up sealing it externally sometime later. This procedure helped reduce the water, but not completely eliminate it.

[@ajcreatives7190]

How can we treat 95 years old house and there is water coming in through the walls! Any suggestions would be appreciated!

[@OHFScratch]

You need to excavate the exterior of the foundation and water proof it from the outside. Coating the inside isn't going to work.

[@kalvintam2215]

John, is it still works after 3 years ?

[@OHFScratch]

Recommend you try and fix all foundation leaks externally, which is what I ended up doing here later on.

[@bigalb8935]

Very cool I will try this have same problem exact same hairline crack in poured foundation

[@itsv1nnie969]

big help thanks man

[@ericchaboyer7001]

My basement says nwo has a bunch of black. Was this a fix?

[@OHFScratch]

I don't understand that first sentence. Best fix is to seal it from the outside.

[@augustahay6253]

Why are the "experts" in the comment section watching this video, if they already know how to fix something like this "properly"?

[@johnmigut3461]

Had to be a comment from a woman. Learning and new techniques are always good. Men never stop learning or progressing. Go be with your male not a man.

[@patrickseevers3858]

Yeah, I’d rather be in the country but Chester isn’t bad. Plus I can get a west Va. fishing liscense and go up to Tomas lake

[@YaBoyDC]

Where in Jersey are you?

[@OHFScratch]

30 minutes south of Philly

[@YaBoyDC]

Cool. I live in Jackson. This video was helpful.

[@ernieforrest7218]

John, what you have yet to learn, is that if the problem with the water infiltration is serious enough, it will find a way into your basement, and if it cant find a way it will make a way in. Now your fix may well help in your situation, assuming the situation isnt very serious to begin with. But you will be the first one to know if it dosent.

[@mubarksaad1137]

Thank you very much

[@davidamoritz]

You can use an injectable hydro active grout its not a epoxy.☺

[@OHFScratch]

Good to know. Thanks, David.

[@davidamoritz]

John Our Home from Scratch anytime! I was a Waterproofer for years in Houston Texas and kept the tunnels under the city dry☺

[@sapelesteve]

Curious as to where one can purchase the injectable hydro active grout & how it's used? Would it work by just using it on the inside of a basement wall, or do you still have to treat the outside? Thanks, Steve

[@davidamoritz]

Sapele Steve sure Sir, De Neef makes a hydro grout as far as where to get it I use Builders Products or SSI out of Houston Texas. SSI is national so they may have a local outlet for you. Also depending if you have a crack or just weeping thru the wall you may look into Xypex its a crystalline growth compound that when applied to the wall soaks into the cement and grows crystals to stop water absorption, its cool stuff. I realize most people just call a foundation guy for leaks but a very capable source for this type of work is a Waterproofing company, as a waterproofer we specialize in everything from moisture and thermal envelopes of a buildings structure above and below grade. And please don't hesitate to ask if you have any other questions, we're all here to learn and help on a channel like this one.☺

[@davidamoritz]

Sapele Steve sorry I didn't really answer how to do it. Essentially you hammer drill holes for port on the sides of a crack and insert ports you buy when you get the product, they screw in with a socket wrench or adjustable wrench. Then you fill a grease gun with the material and the port has a grease port on it and inject with it, they do make dedicated pumps and some use paint spray rigs. The material is like honey consistency and 1 drop will expand upon contact with water to golf ball size, after applying wait a day you may need to inject more if leaks are stopped pull ports and use hydro cement on holes.☺ And it is all inside no digging, we use it alot on elevator pits of existing buildings

[@rowlindajustus4034]

Hydraulic cement did not work for me. Dry lock has a silicone that I used to stop mine I did it about three years ago still dry so far so good.

[@christophermcstay8739]

John, I'm interested to see how you insulate around the waste pipe on the wall. I'm in a similar position with my basement right now and I'm leaning towards spray foam so that I don't have to deal with installing the rigid foam around the pipe. Maybe you can show me something and save me some money!

[@OHFScratch]

My plan is to foam board above and below it and then fill in the gap around it with expanding foam.

[@kevinmacomber2575]

If the wall is still moving, the hydraulic cement can come out. Use a two part epoxy.

[@OHFScratch]

The problem I've heard with epoxy is it expands and contracts at a different rate than the concrete wall in climates where the temperature shifts. That difference in rate will cause the epoxy to separate from the concrete. It's what I heard.

[@oGrimz]

I was wondering how long hydraulic cement last for? I am currently working on my basement which has tons of small holes all through the basement walls and floors where it meets the walls. I am.using watertite hydraulic cement and hoping it will last while we live here. I will be using poly foam board to insulate the walls with as well has spray foam to seal

[@OHFScratch]

I have no idea.

[@oGrimz]

@@OHFScratch thanks for the reply

[@whatsnext984]

You should have scratched the concrete with a wire brush also next you should build a front porch with overhanging roof and gutter system since you said it was the front of the house

[@diegomorales8616]

Why not prep for bonding & use elastomeric waterproofing? It doesn't run into that problem you mention of expanding & contracting at different rates because has elastic properties that allow it move with the underlying material.

[@OHFScratch]

I didn't look at every option. I ended up sealing it from the outside anyway sometime after this video was filmed.

[@WesleyDeVries]

Did this. Didn't work. It's like patching a boat from the inside. If you have access to the outside wall, repair it from that side:)

[@Rextrent]

Sometimes there is only the hard way, or else it will haunt you or knock you down.

[@overthehilldill3626]

You didn't do it right.

[@ishish9283]

Where's your respirator mask Safety First my friend you don't want to breathe all that stuff into your lungs believe me being able not to breathe that's the worst thing in the world waking up in the morning can't breathe I would never wish that upon nobody so wear your mask. SAFTY FIRST........

[@marcialsanchez7171]

name product

[@tm-ln4hj]

Show me plz

[@jts3793]

Would be better off with something industrial like Xypex

[@darrylespeland4824]

Damn!!!, I was literally holding my breath while you delineated through your logic process. Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz goes the wrong answer buzzer ;.(.......... It was door no.3 my man. High viscosity polyurethane polymer. The only good thing about Crete and other hydraulic leak stoppers is that its CHEAP. So at least you don't waist a lot of money while you waist your time. A stick of chewing gum would work better . If it makes you feel any better I learned this the hard way. When I moved into this house the first time it rained I had leaks springing up all over the basement that formed a little channel over to the sump in the corner of the basement. I went on KZbin and did a half hour of research on leaking basements and like you came away with the opinion that hydraulic cement was the way to go. I spent a couple of days opening those cracks and shipping away a sort of dove tail edge to give the cement something to cling to. Did a real nice job looked real pretty. During the next good rain I went down to the basement to inspect my handiwork and there was the same leaks and the same places draining the same way as before. It was as if I had plugged all those leaks with liquid Drano. So yeah, go with a good polyurethane polymer and you might want to put in a 10 gallon dry well in the wall for safe measure.

[@OHFScratch]

A year later I ended up sealing it externally with a rubber gasket material and contact cement.

[@darrellsaturnbigfoot]

Thousands of ton of concrete (foundation) is moving. Unless your patch is flexible this will NOT work.

[@surajmishra1328]

The groove should be cut Minimum 25mm wide and 15mm deep.. the after with epoxy mortar.. the we have do POLY GROUT if the water is coming and if not then cement grout.. then it stope permanently.. dude

[@triumphmanful]

whaaat ?

[@mikejohn1202]

Paints and inside patches are like a bandaid on a cut artery ... stupid but stupid sells to the uninformed. Figuring out the source of the water is your first thing to do. Is it from no gutters causing pooling in the yard? How about the yard is sloped toward the house instead of away? Outside water leak saturating the ground ... figure this out and resolve it first. 2) Dig down ON THE OUTSIDE of the wall all the way to the footing. Clean the wall, patch or fill as needed and apply self sticking water proof membrane all along that wall and fill back in = done.

[@mikepetro1559]

He said at the start of the video that digging from the outside wasn't an option for him. I dealt with this same issue 2 years ago, and had to handle the repair from the inside as I wasn't about to tear up my deck and destroy my backyard with excavation. The method shown in the video worked for me, however I also applied a layer of this Hydro Ban Water Proofing membrane stuff ontop of the hydraulic cement. Overkill? maybe, but I don't have water in my basement anymore so I'll consider it a win.

[@billytopa]

There was no water leak there to repair!

[@OHFScratch]

You sure about that?

[@billytopa]

I didn’t see any water

[@OHFScratch]

@@billytopa Right. You'd only see water after a heavy rain. I did this fix when it was dry. I ended up patching it from the outside anyway.

[@Obama4Prezz]

Honestly your intro music, why is it so loud? Trying hard not to downvote on this alone despite an otherwise great video. Ditch the over the top music.

[@OHFScratch]

I'll fix it going forward, but I can't fix videos that are years old.